AMC Theatres is mounting a movie publicity event connected with “This Is 40,” which ties into the circuit’s loyalty program. AMC is hosting a question-and-answer session Nov. 28 with director Judd Apatow at its AMC NorthPark 15 in Dallas. Members of AMC Stubs—which is the circuit’s loyalty program—are given tickets to see “This Is 40” for a by-invitation-only screening prior … [Read more...] about AMC Publicizes Apatow Film
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AMC Revamps Consumer Marketing
The nation’s second largest theater, AMC Entertainment has completely revamped its consumer marketing in the past few years. Now the bulk of marketing spending goes into digital, instead of print newspapers, such as online digital platforms where consumer like to express their opinions about movies. “Social media is pervasive and consumers expect brands to be in social … [Read more...] about AMC Revamps Consumer Marketing
In-theater Restaurant Dining Grows
In-theater dining is gaining momentum. National Amusement’s Showcase Cinema is planning a restaurant-style meal service in a Boston-area theater and similar venues are planned for Kansas and suburban Chicago. National Amusements, which is a major circuit in the Northeast United States, will open a Davio’s Cucina restaurant at a to-be-built six-screen multiplex in Chestnut … [Read more...] about In-theater Restaurant Dining Grows
Theaters Host Mini-Fests at Reduced Prices
Movie theaters are rolling out a range of special promotions to try to ingrain the cinema-going habit with showings of older films at discount prices. * Carmike and Regal starts a “Marvel Superhero Movie Marathon” screening movies with Marvel characters simultaneously on May 3 coming just before the premiere of "The Avengers" from Walt Disney Studios the following day. * … [Read more...] about Theaters Host Mini-Fests at Reduced Prices
Some ‘Twilight’ Moviegoers Suffer Convulsions
News reports indicate a some incidents occurred where moviegoers go into convulsions during a scene replete with flashing visuals in “Twilight: Breaking Dawn--Part One.” These apparently spontaneous attacks of jitters call to mind publicity stunts for pure horror films in the 1950s that promised over-the-top frights. This week’s episodes with the “Twilight” audience, which … [Read more...] about Some ‘Twilight’ Moviegoers Suffer Convulsions
Studios Push Fast 60-day VOD Window
Hollywood’s major studios are close to deals for a “premium video-on-demand window” to put movies on TV screens just 60 days after theatrical premiere for $30, prompting denunciation from theaters and some in Hollywood. The timing is odd because studios and theater operators just met in Las Vegas for the CinemaCon convention but the studio premium VOD plans only … [Read more...] about Studios Push Fast 60-day VOD Window
Gripes over Film Rating System
The movie classification system is under attack in a spate of press commentaries, but I’ve got a simple fix. All those films that don’t like their ratings should withdraw from classification and play in cinemas “unrated.” There is no requirement to be classified and some films go that route all the time. It’s really an argument about Hollywood making more money by … [Read more...] about Gripes over Film Rating System
Super-luxury Theaters Sprout
Some movie theaters have created a premium-priced film-going experience with booze and fancy food at $29 a ticket, versus a $7.50 national average. Australian theater circuit Village Roadshow (VRS) has four such theaters in the U.S. offering a movie and dining experience. “Forget Milk Duds and popcorn,” says a “Los Angeles Times” article by Richard Verrier and Jessica Gelt. … [Read more...] about Super-luxury Theaters Sprout
Imax Screens 16-Minute ‘Avatar’ Clip
In its extensive discussion of trailers, “Marketing to Moviegoers: Second Edition” calls them essentially “free samples” of movies. Now, 20th Century Fox is taking the trailer concept to an extreme level with “Avatar,” which is the Jim Cameron (“Titanic”) sci-fi epic set for Dec. 18 theatrical release. A “Los Angeles Times” article says big-screen Imax theaters will present … [Read more...] about Imax Screens 16-Minute ‘Avatar’ Clip
3-D Screens Double Boxoffice
“Monsters vs. Aliens” pulled a robust $59.3 million for the three-day weekend on 7,300 screens, in a validation for 3-D cinema projection. Lionsgate’s horror film “The Haunting in Connecticut” grossed $23 million from half as many screens, in another strong debut, as cinema going continues to ride high despite the deep recession. Those figures are domestic box office—U.S. and … [Read more...] about 3-D Screens Double Boxoffice